JP Balboa aka Mr. Perez was born in Rome 40 years ago. His father passion for Jazz, Blues and Gospel and his brother’s enthusiasm for a couple of wonderful Technics 1200 were the main culprits of JP Balboa’s early love for the black culture. At the age of 14 he puts his hands on his first sampling keyboard, the too soon forgotten Korg DSS-1 (another lucky inheritance from his older brother). At the same time JP Balboa discovers Eric B & Rakim and the American Hip Hop scene. The wave of Italian Posses was a blast and - with DjMoze (a true Bro!) and SalsaDread - JP Balboa founded 166 Posse. It had a role, although minor, in the Italian political movement of “La Pantera”, at least we believed so…
He performs as MC in the major Rome’s underground venues with bands like OndaRossaPosse, Assalti Frontali, AK47, One Love Hi Powa, Sud Sound System… In this period he starts his Beat production with the excellent Korg. After a few years of experimentation he meets with Grido aka Er Negro de Roma. With him and Lil B initiates the crew Djuba Squad. This crew records two tracks just in time to throw them down the drain. In the same time JP Balboa meets Francesco Lancia and with him launches the independent record company L9 Entertainment. Under this label using the name Mr. Perez, in collaboration with Danny Phon (RZPCT) and Manimal, the best multi-instrumentalist around and true friend, JP Balboa produces most of the tracks of Sparo (aka Manero aka ErTurco) debut album “Tutta Sostanza” and most of his second “Direzione non so dove”. In both record JP Balboa and his team are in charge also of the mix.
JP Balboa meets Brusco in this same period. This encounter shifted the team’s attention to a more commercial sound. Still deeply rooted in underground the commercial shift produces a few successes. “Ancora Ancora” is the first track getting some recognition. The track hails the 2001 victory of the “scudetto” by A.S. Roma and was co-produced by MacroMarco, one of Italy top producers in the reggae and Hip-Hop scene.
The collaboration with Brusco produces the EP “Brusco” and the LP “Si fa presto a dire Brusco”. The tracks “Il mondo e’ anche mio”, “Buongiorno” (co-produced with Fuji), “Ti penso sempre” and, above all, “Sotto I raggi del sole” bring the team to unexpected successes like the participation to “Top of the Pops” and to the “FestivalBar”.
The breakup with L9 was traumatic and brings JP Balboa to reconsider many of his choices. After a few years spent experimenting and working on Sound Design, Mixing and Foley for companies like Universal, Turner, Sky, Fox, Mediaset, RAI and a few independent production companies, JP Balboa is back to the music scene.
THE CHAIN REMAINS…
Works:
Epicentro Romano Vol. 1 e 2 (1998-2000)
Tutta Sostanza - Sparo (2000)
Brusco Ep - Brusco (2001)
Direzione Non So Dove (2002)
Si fa presto a dire Brusco - Brusco (2002)
Vecchio Sporco Bastardo - PornoRocko (2008)
Beat Maker - Sound Designer
Influences: Golden Age
If u r interested on some collabo just send me a private message.